![]() The goblin mage (Zazz, a level 7 controller) was snuffed out before he could monologue. The hobgoblin captain (Mulk, a level 8 soldier) was literally a pushover-he got thrown off his ship by a magical whirlwind in the first round of combat. This one-night diversion was also crafted to remind the heroes how powerful they have become. But there was one more reason for the encounter. The war to the west (against a former imperial regency fallen under horrors from the Far Realm) has taken its toll on the imperial fleet, and the goblins of Sanghor are seizing advantage of the situation. I created the side trek to remind my players (and their characters) that there’s far more going on in the world of Iomandra than “the quest at hand.” The goblin ship’s ability to slip past Dragovar patrols tells the heroes something meaningful about the world-that the Dragovar navy has lost control of the Dragon Sea. R easons for the Encounter This goblin ship encounter was meant to provide context for the larger campaign world. What ensues is a rollicking shipboard battle against an enemy the heroes never expected to fight at their level. The noble heroes decide to storm the ship and rescue the caged prisoner. Second, the ship is openly plying the trade lanes and is clearly a threat to passing tradeships. ![]() Within the cage, he sees a prisoner struggling to stay above water. First, the party’s ranger spots a cage being dragged alongside the goblin ship at sea level. D e c e m b e r 2 011 | D U N G E O N 1 9 7 1 The Dungeon Master Experience: Surprise! Epic Goblins! Our heroes would’ve been inclined to leave goblin ship alone but for two reasons. Clearly this blood-sailed vessel belongs to the Kingdom of Sanghor, a savage island nation of goblins far to the west. The adventurers confronted a ship like this once long before, during the heroic tier, when goblins raided their island home. Corpses are lashed to the other ship’s hull, and its sails are stained crimson with blood. En route, the adventurers catch sight of a lone vessel heading in the opposite direction. Having weathered that storm, the Maelstrom has resumed its westward trek toward the party’s ultimate objective. (You might recall that the same thing happened to Captain Picard in the ST:TNG episode, Chain of Command.) Three days ago, the Maelstrom survived a run-in with three enemy ships sent by a rival Sea King. One of the adventurers, a genasi swordmage, was recently relieved as captain of the Maelstrom so that he could lead a special ops mission for his mentor and benefactor, Sea King Valkroi. The Maelstrom is a swift vessel powered by an elemental ring of water (an idea pilfered from the Eberron campaign setting). The adventurers are 22nd level, and crewing a ship heading west across the Dragon Sea. On Monday and Wednesday nights, he runs a D&D® campaign for two different groups of players set in his homegrown world of Iomandra. Today, he’s the senior producer for the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game and leads the team of designers, developers, and editors who produce D&D RPG products. Dungeon Master for Life, Chris Perkins Christopher Perkins Christopher Perkins joined Wizards of the Coast in 1997 as the editor of Dungeon® magazine. If you’re interested in learning more about the world of Iomandra, check out the wiki. Hopefully this series of articles will give you inspiration, ideas, and awesome new ways to menace your players in your home campaigns. Even though the campaign uses the 4th Edition rules, the topics covered here often transcend editions. Here I share my experiences as a DM through the lens of Iomandra, my Dungeons & Dragons® campaign world. Idle Champions has been actively developed since launching in 2017, releasing new campaigns each year, exciting new Champions every month, and new in-game features frequently.The Dungeon Master Experience: Surprise! Epic Goblins! The Dungeon Master Experience This regular column is for Dungeon Masters who like to build worlds and campaigns as much as I do. Venture to Icewind Dale, Chult, Barovia, the Nine Hells of Baator, and more! Journey throughout the Sword Coast and beyond, visiting cities like Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Baldur's Gate. Master each Champion's formation abilities to complete adventures based on official Dungeons & Dragons books like Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, and Curse of Strahd. Unlock Champions from across the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse including fan-favorites from novels, adventures, and live streams like Force Grey: Lost City of Omu, Acquisitions Incorporated, Black Dice Society, and The Oxventurers Guild. ![]()
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